The preventing violent extremism programme has proved controversial since it was launched in April 2007 as a way of "mobilising communities against violent extremists and their messages of hate".

In Whitehall, it was seen as having many objectives, from building the community "capacity" of centres of Muslim population to challenging the ideology of violent extremism.

Ministers believed it was a crucial strand of counterterrorism strategy.

While the tabloids complained that the programme was funnelling millions of pounds to Sunday morning football clubs and Bangladeshi women's groups, there was a widespread feeling in the Muslim community that they were being cast as a "suspect population".

A Commons select committee last year concluded: "This programme is a complex and sensitive agenda that has met with widely varying perceptions as to what it stands for and aims to deliver … its approach is contentious and is unlikely ever to be fully accepted by those it is most important to engage."

MPs were concerned that there was a widespread belief that the programme was being used to "spy" on Muslim communities.